Vocational education and training industry groups call for measures to protect jobs and skill

Two of Australia's leading vocational training industry groups, Group Training Australia (GTA) and TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) have called for a significant increase in funding and new strategies to promote vocational education and training as part of the Federal Government's response to the economic downturn.

The two national networks jointly represent more than 150 Group Training Organisations employing some 40,000 apprentices and trainees, as well as the directors of 59 TAFE Institutes across Australia.

GTA Chief Executive Officer Jim Barron and TDA Executive Director, Martin Riordan said there was a rapid deterioration in the outlook for many apprentices and trainees which warranted measures to protect those facing dislocation and stimulate training in key sectors of the economy.

"Existing training programs were conceived in a totally different economic environment," they said in a joint statement.

"There is now an urgent need to review some of the current programs and look at how they can be recalibrated for a vastly different climate that is seeing employer sponsored training scaled back and apprentices being laid off.

"It is important that we look to the medium and long term, because training must remain an essential ingredient in the development of Australia's human capital. If we disregard skills formation at this time, we will pay a high price when we do emerge from the downturn and necessary skills are in short supply," the statement said.

A recent survey of group training organisations showed an increasing number of apprentices being stood down by employers and fewer vacancies from host employers.

GTA has called for funding to provide income support for apprentices for whom no placement can be found while they continue to train. It has also urged a relocation allowance to enable apprentices to move to areas where work is available.

TDA has issued a ten point plan aimed at protecting jobs, maintaining the training effort and rejuvenating the VET sector, including:

• A doubling of the December 2008 commitment of infrastructure funds to TAFE to $800 million to overcome a backlog in essential works estimated at $4.5 billion.
• A review of the Productivity Places Program to include Certificate I pre-apprenticeship training.
• Allocation of funds to Group Training companies to support out-of-trade apprentices through wage subsidies to allow apprentices to complete their education.
• The establishment of a new qualification - an Australian Trade Diploma - to encourage uptake in industry sectors experiencing a decline, but in which skills shortages will reappear.
• Increased funding for a review of teaching and the development of infrastructure for VET in schools.
• Expanded access for TAFE and VET to the Commonwealth's Education Investment Fund.

"Many low-level skilled employees who have obtained work during the economic boom are at risk of losing their jobs as the economy weakens. While they may not be able to take advantage of employer based training, government has a role in enhancing their skills for the future," said the statement.

"It is vital that we make every effort to ensure that, when Australia finally emerges on the other side of the current economic downturn, it has not gone backwards in its overall training effort.

"It is also important that we fully examine the breadth of new and emerging skills that will be needed in a low carbon economy so that we are well positioned to take advantage of these new opportunities".

Group Training Australia is the national peak body representing the network of over 150 Group Training Organisations (GTOs) employing over 40,000 apprentices and trainees throughout Australia.

TAFE Directors Australia is the national peak association for Australia's 59 TAFE and technology institutes, which cater to 1.67 million students per annum, including over 27,000 international students.

Group Training Australia and TAFE Directors Australia Media Release - 16th February 2009